Chelsea Apartments – 620 W Olympic Pl

The Chelsea Apartments on West Olympic Place were built in 1907 to house visiting families. Then called the “Chelsea Hotel”, it’s charms were widely advertised. One ad, running under the “Room and Board” classification a few years after the Exposition said:

The rates started at $1.00 a day, or $2.00 and up with meals. The convenient and pleasant location, and the amenities such as the view, the lobby, the roof garden and telephones reflected the qualities mentioned in advertisements for nearby apartments.

Chelsea Apartments, undated

Chelsea Apartments

The owner, Charles R. Collins, lived at the Chelsea with his wife and three children. It was designed by Harlan Thomas, who designed the Sorrento Hotel, a family hotel on First Hill, and the Amalfi Apartments on Queen Anne Avenue. It is an eclectic mix of English, Renaissance and Italianate styles, with an unusual narrow courtyard with stairs leading to the second floor.

The Chelsea served as a hotel until 1917 when all the units became apartments. It now has 58 apartment units, averaging 529 square feet.

Further Reading

The apartment building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 1978. Read it’s nomination for historical designation, which include details about its history and architecture.